Snubbed truck



1952 o. w. NEUMANN EI'AL SNUBBED TRUCK 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Aug. 27, 1948 M X V N Feb. 26, 1952 Filed- Aug. 27. 1948 O. W. NEUMANN ETAL SNUBBED TRUCK 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 IN V EN TORS Patented Feb. 26, 1952 SNUBBED TRUCK Otto W. Neumann and Gerald D. ONeil, Chicago,

Ill., assignors to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 27, 1948, Serial No. 46,414

Claims.

This invention relates to railway car trucks and more" particularly to a truck incorporating snubbing means for damping the oscillations of the bolster-supporting springs.

The general object of the invention is to design a truck wherein a truss type side frame is provided with a center post received between spaced legs of a bifurcated bolster, and wherein the movements of the bolster are controlled by shoe means frictionally engaging each leg and in wedge engagement with the post, the shoe means being actuated by resilient means supported on the frame.

Another object is to provide novel friction means between the bolster and center post, said friction means being of compact, simple, rugged form and serving as squaring instrumentalities between the side frame and the bolster.

Another object is to provide snubbing means affording substantially uniform and constant friction control of vertical oscillations of the bolster;

This. invention contemplates the provision of a pair of friction shoes projecting from opposite sides of the side frame center column, each shoe having laterally spaced wedge surfaces intercalated with the wedge surfaces of the other shoe and. the surfaces of respective shoes engagingupwardly sloping transversely spaced wedgjj-su'rfaces on said'column. The shoes are actuated'i'by common resilient means urging the shoes upwardly against the column and outwardly against spaced portions of thebolster atoppositejsides of the column.

A different object is to provide friction means which will afford adequate control of the lateral movements of the bolster.

Theseuand other objects of the invention will be apparent from the specification and the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a railway car truck incorporating the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof with the side frame shown in horizontal section with the center post removed;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 3..3 of Figure 1 with the shoe on the right of Figure 1 removed to better illustrate the construction of the center strut; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view taken from the bottom of the center post.

Describing the invention in detail, the side frame comprises a tension member 2, a compression member 4, and spaced columns 6. B defining The wall is disposed adjacent the inboard side I 40 therewith a bolster opening 8. The tension member 2 is of box section beneath the bolster opening with the top chord Ill thereof widened and formed with upstanding inboard and outboard flanges l2 and I 4 defining a spring seat 16 on which are mounted the bolster-supporting coil springs diagrammatically indicated at [8, l8, said springs being arranged in two sets disposed at opposite sides of the transverse center line of the truck, as will be clearly apparent from a consideration of Figure 2.

A center post or colunm 20 is formed integral with the compression member 4 and extends downwardly therefrom into the upper end of the bolster opening 8 substantially medially between columns 6, 6. V

A bolster, generally designated 22, is seated on the upp r ends of the coil springs and comprises a body portion of generally conventional form having top and bottom walls 24 and 26 and spaced side walls 28, 28. The bolster 22 comprises a bifurcated end portion forming spaced legs 30, 30 defining an opening therebe: tween receiving the center post 20 therein. The legs are of box section and each comprises top and bottom walls 32 and 34 and spaced side walls 36 and 38. The top and bottom walls 32 and 34 of each leg are formed as continuations of the top and bottom walls 24 and 26 of the body portion of the bolster and the remote side walls36 of the legs are formed as continuations of the respective side walls 28 of the bolster. The adjacent side walls -38 of the legs 30, 30 extend longitudinally of the bolster; as best seen in Figure 2, and at their inner extremities merge with a transverse wall 40 extending between and interconnecting the top and bottom walls 24 and 26 of the body portion of the bolster.

of post 20.

It will be noted that each set of springs comprises three spring units, including a pair of outer spring units and an intermediate spring unit in alignment with each other substantially longitudinally of the bolster, each unit being positioned at its upper end by depending bosses 42, 42 on the bolster. Preferably, the outer spring units comprise inner and outer coils and the intermediate spring unit is a single coil. It will also be noted that the legs 30, 30 are formed at the outer extremities of their adjacent sides with ing reinforced by means of spaced vertical gussets 46 formed integrally with the top surface thereof and with the associated side wall 38.

A shoe-actuating spring 48 is interposed between the spaced sets of bolster-supporting springs I8, 18 substantially in vertical alignment with the post 23 and is seated at its lower end on spring seat It and at its upper end bears against a pair of reversely arranged substantially identical friction shoes 50, 50. One of the shoes seats on the upper end of the spring at one side of the axis thereof and the other shoe seats on the upper end of the spring at the opposite side of the axis thereof. The pair of shoes is in wedge engagement with the center post along reversely arranged upwardly sloping diagonal surfaces on the post and frictionally engage the bolster legs 30, 39, as hereinafter more fully described.

Each shoe 56 is in general a skeletal structure and comprises a vertical friction wall 52 and a substantially horizontal spring seat wall 54 merging with the lower end of the vertical wall and affording a seat for the shoe on the spring 68 and being provided with a plurality of spaced depending bosses 56 surrounding a portion of the shoe-actuating spring e8. In addition, each shoe comprises a pair of substantially vertical webs 5B and 8:] arranged generally parallel to each other and merging with the top surface of the associated bottom wall 54. of the shoe and with the inner side of the vertical friction wall 52 of the shoe. Web 58 is disposed at one side of the shoe and web 66 is disposed intermediate the opposite sides of the shoe. Both of these webs 58 and 60 form a hollow, as hereinafter described, as at 62 to lighten the structure and are provided at their upper edges with diagonal coplanar curved or crowned wedge surfaces 54, 64.

From a consideration of Figure 2 it will be noted that the friction wall 52 of each shoe 50 provides a flat friction surface in engagement as at 68 with a wear plate 68 carried by the associated leg of the bolster, each plate 68 being suitably secured to the wall 38 of the associated leg in any convenient manner but preferably as by welding at 10, 10. It will also be noted that wal1s 58 and 60 of-one shoe are intercalated with the walls 58 and 63 of the other shoe, and that said walls 58 and B0 of one shoe seat as at H on the top side of thebottom-wall of the other shoe. Thus the shoes are interlocked against substantial relative lateral movement and the pressure of the spring is distributed to the full bottom portion of each shoe.

The surfaces 64, 64, as best seen in Figure 2, on the one shoe are in wedge engagement with spaced curved or crowned diagonal coplanar wedge surfaces i2, 12 on the post 2|]; and the webs 58 and of the other shoe are in wedge engagement with reversely arranged diagonal coplanar wedge surfaces 14, 14. It will be noted that the surfaces 12 and Hare arranged respectively along planes intersecting substantially at the longitudinal center 'line of the truck, the surfaces 12, 12 being formed on the underside of the diagonal bottom webs 16, .16 ,of the center post or column 20 and the surfaces 14, 14 being formed on the undersideof webs 18, [8 ofcolumn 20. These webs 16 and 18 merge at their upper and lower ends with spaced substantially vertical Webs 8B, 8B which extend transversely of the side frame and merge with the bottom vwall 82 of the box section compression member, and for reinforcement each web 16 and IBmergeson its upper or inner side with the lower edge of a vertical rib 83, each rib 83 being formed integral with the adjacent wall 80. It will be understood that surfaces 12, 12 are alternately arranged with surfaces M, M and that these surfaces are spaced laterally of one another, that is, transversely of the truck, and that the pair of webs i6, 16 and pair 18, 18 are alternately arranged in crisscrossing relationship in the form of an X as seen in Figure 1, thus forming abutments engageable with walls 58 and 60 of respective shoes for interlocking the shoes with the post against movement transversely of the frame, and, further the particular arrangement of these walls 16 and 18 provides large bearing areas for the shoes.

In operation, the shoe-supporting spring 48 urges shoes "55, 58 upwardly against the respective-wedgesurfacesand causes the shoes to slide thereon, whereby the shoes move laterally of the bolster and each engages the adjacent bolster leg. Inasmuch as a single spring or common resilient means supports both shoes, lateral movement of the bolster in one direction will cause the shoe opposing the movement to ride downwardly on the associated wedge faces of the center post, thus compressing the actuating spring 48. As the spring is compressed, pressure on the shoe on the opposite side of the post is relieved. This feature allows the bolster to center itself more readily as no resistance is offered by the other shoe to movement centeringthe bolster. In other words and referring to Figure 1, if the bolster moves to the right, shoe Won the left of post 20 andengaging the adjacent leg 30 iscaused to slide downwardly on surfaces 14,14 of the post 20, thus compressing spring 48, which on being compresed relieves pressure on shoe 50, at the right of-post 2B, and bearing against the adjacent leg 36. After the force urging bolster 22 to the right is expended, either through abutment of leg 30 on the right with theguide portion 82 ofthe adjacent column or through the action of the shoe 5!] on the left of post 20 in sliding on surfaces 14, 14. the bolster -is centered by the .lastmentioned shoe which is urged upwardly along surfaces 14, 14 by the reaction of spring 48. When the bolster is-centered, pressure of the spring against both shoes is reestablished.

The bolster is interlocked with the side frame by means of spaced inboard and outboard gibs or lugs 84, lid-embracing the associated column therebetween and it will be noted that for assembly purposes the outboardwebs are of a depthv less-than that of the widened lower portion 86 of the bolster opening 8, as is conventional practice.

We claim:

1. In a truck, a side frame comprising tension and compression members andspaced columns,

defining a bolster opening, a post integral with one of said members extending .into saidopening, a bolster comprising spaced legs extending into saidopening at opposite sides ,of said post, a shoe between each leg andsaidpost in frictional engagement with the former and having spaced wedge portions in wedge engagement with the latter, the portions of respective shoes interfittingwith each other, and spring means for actuating the shoes compressed between the same and one of ,said members.

2. Ina railway car truck, a truss .type side frame including a substantially verticalcolumn, a movable member resiliently supported from the frame and comprising spaced legs receiving said column therebetween, a pair of upwardly sloping coplanar wedge surfaces on said column facing each leg, the surfaces facing one leg being intercalated with the surfaces facing the other leg, a-shoe between each leg and said column and in frictional engagement with the former and having spaced coplanar wedge surfaces in engagement with the adjacent pair of wedge surfaces on the latter, and a single coil spring hearing at one end against all of said shoes and at the other end against said frame.

3. In a railway car truck, a side frame having a substantially vertical column, a relatively movable member spring-supported from said frame and having spaced legs embracing said column, friction means including a shoe between each leg and said column in frictional engagement with the-former and having a plurality of wedge surfaces spaced transversely of said frame and in wedge engagement with spaced wedge surfaces on the latter, the surfaces on one shoe and the associated wedge surfaces on the column being intercalated with the wedge surfaces on the other shoe and the column Wedge surfaces associated therewith.

4. In a railway car truck, a side frame having a substantially vertical column, a relatively movable member supported from said frame and having spaced legs at opposite sides of said column, friction means including a shoe between each leg and said column in frictional engagement with the former and comprising spaced wedge surfaces in wedge engagement with wedge'surfaces on the latter, the surfaces on one shoe and their engaging column surfaces being intercalated with surfaceson the other shoe and their engaging column surfaces.

5. In a car truck, a side frame comprising an upright column, a bolster having an opening receiving said column, shoes at opposite sides of said column in frictional engagement with the bolster and having spaced portions in wedge engagement with the column, and spring means for actuating said shoes, the portions of said shoes at one side of the column being partially aligned with the portions of said shoes at the opposite side of the column transversely of the column.

6. In a side frame for a railway car truck, a truss member structure comprising tension and compression members, a substantially vertical central column integral with one of the .members and extending toward the other member, and wedge means on the end of said column remote from said one member, comprising a set of wedge surfaces on one side of said column, and another set of surfaces on the opposite side of the column, the surfaces of one set being intercalated with the surfaces of the other set and converging therewith toward said other member.

'7. In a side frame for a railway car truck, a truss structure comprising top and bottom members, a substantially vertical column integral with one of said members and extending toward the other, wedge means on said column comprising a set of surfaces on one side of said column spaced transversely of said frame, and a set of wedge surfaces on the opposite side of said column spaced transversely of said frame and intercalated with the surfaces on the first-mentioned side of said column, the surfaces on opposite sides of said column converging vertically.

8. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising a column, a relatively movable member having spaced legs receiving said column therebetween, shoes at opposite sides of the column and in Wedge engagement therewith and each frictionally engaging the adjacent leg, and common spring means bearing at one extremity at one side of its compressional axis against the ad- 6. jacentof said shoes and at the opposite side of said axis against the adjacent of said shoes, said spring means being compressed between the shoes 'and said frame.

9. In a truck, a truss type side frame comprising a central upright column, a bolster having an opening receiving said column, shoe means at opposite sides of the column in frictional engagement with the bolster, each of said shoe means having spaced portions embracing a portion of said column therebetween for interlocking engagement therewith against movement transversely of said frame and in wedge engagement with said column, and spring means for actuating said shoe means compressed between the same and said frame.

10. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising a substantially vertical column, a relatively movable member resiliently supported from said frame and comprising spaced legs at opposite sides of said column, a shoe between each leg and said column in frictional engagement with the former and comprising spaced wedge surfaces in wedge engagement with the latter, the wedge surfaces on one shoe being intercalated with the wedge surfaces on the other shoe, and resilient means compressed between said frame and said shoes.

11. In a truck, a side frame comprising a substantially vertical column, a bolster spring-supported from the frame and comprising spaced legs receiving said column therebetween, spaced wedge surfaces on opposite sides of the column sloping toward respective legs, the surfaces on one side of the column being arranged in crisscrossing relationship with the surfaces on the opposite side of the column, a shoe interposed between each leg and the surfaces on the adjacent side of the column and having frictional engagement with the former and wedge engagement with the adjacent surfaces, and resilient means reacting between the shoes and said frame.

12. In a truck, a side frame comprising a column, a bolster having spaced legs receiving said column therebetween, a shoe between each leg and said column in frictional engagement with the former and in wedge engagement with the latter along spaced wedge surfaces, actuating means for each shoe reacting thereagainst and against said frame, and abutment means on the column extending into each shoe between the associated surfaces for limiting movements of the shoes transversely of the column.

13. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising a vertical column, a bolster spring-supported from the frame and comprising spaced portions receiving said column therebetween, wedge surfaces on said column facing each of said portions, the surfaces facing one portion being arranged in crossing relationship with those facing the other portion, friction shoe means in frictional engagement with each portion and in wedge engagement with the surfaces facing the same, and resilient means for actuating said shoe means compressed thereagainst and against said frame.

14. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising a column, a bolster resiliently supported from the frame and comprising spaced legs receiving said column therebetween, spaced wedge surfaces on one side of-the column, a wedge surface at the opposite side of said column extending between said spaced wedge surfaces, a shoe in wedge engagement with said spaced surfaces and in frictional engagement with one leg, a shoe in wedge engagement with said other wedge sur- 7 faceYa'nd in' frictional engagement withthe other logy-and resilient'means reacting between said frameand said shoes for actuating the latter.

15. A side frame comprising *a column and wedge means'onsaidcolumn comprising a pluralityof surfaces on'one side of the columnand a plurality of surfaces on the opposite side of the column andangularly related to the surfaces on said one side of the column and intercalated therewith transversely of the column.

16. A side frame comprising a column, and wedge means on said column comprising spaced surfaces-at opposite sides of said column, the surfaces on one side of the column being spaced transversely of the frame and intercalated with the surfaces on the opposite side of the column andarranged incrossing planes therewith.

17. A side'framecomprising a' post, and wedge means. comprising spaced wedge surfaces on opposite sides of the post, certainof the wedge surfaces on each side of the post being intercala'ted with the wedge surfaces on the opposite side of the post.

18. Aside frame comprising a post, and wedge means'on the post comprising angularly. related friction surfaces converging longitudinallyof the post anddisposed'in crossingplanes intermediate their ends.

19. A truss type side framecomprising a vertical center post, and wedge means on said post comprising a plurality of wedge surfaces arrangedin the-form of 'a vertical X .transverselymf the post.

20.; In a truck a framecompr-ising top and bot-- tom members and a central column projecting from one member toward the other, wedge surfacesextending across the end'of said column adjacent said other member and sloping in reverse directions, the surfaces sloping in one direction being alternately arranged transversely of the frame with the surfaces sloping in the other directionfabolster having an opening receiving said columny-and friction means between said bolster'and column comprising shoes in wedge engagementwith respective surfaces andin frictional engagement with the bolster.

OTTO W. NEUMANN. GERALD D. ONEIL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES "PATENTS Number Name Date 2,032,996 Leppla -Mar. 3, 1936 2,338,857 Light Jan. 11, 1944 2,424,936 Light July 29, 1947 2,434,583 Pierce Jan.13, 1948 2,434,838 Cottrell Jan. 20, 1948 2,444,009 Grigsby June 22, i948 2,446,506 Barrett et al. Aug-3, 1948 

